Winner of multiple Edgar and Shamus Awards, Lawrence Block keeps fans guessing to the end with his rollicking Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries. In this diverting caper, full-time bookstore owner and part-time burglar Bernie tries to do the right thing for a new friend, only to find himself accused of some terrible wrongs. All Bernie plans to do is steal some letters. A New York City literary agent is auctioning off her personal correspondence with enigmatic writer Gully Fairborn. Gully's attractive ex-girlfriend has asked Bernie to swipe the letters so she can return them to her old heartthrob. But when Bernie breaks in, the letters are missing, and the literary agent is in bed with no hope of waking up. With the police watching him very closely, Bernie relies on jiggers of rye and Caroline, his lesbian best friend, to sharpen his deductive skills and find the killer. Narrator Richard Ferrone expertly guides you on a laugh-filled journey through the twists and turns of the clever plot. Download and start listening now!

Listener Reviews

" All of the Burglar in the ....... series are just wonderful. The movie with Whoopi Goldberg is loosely based on the series and very funny but bears little relationship to the books. "

Paddy | 2/16/2014

" It was a paperback, I was in Buenos Aires, it was portable. Otherwise I would have put it aside. Bernie just doesn't amuse me, nor did all the rye humor. "

Jan | 2/6/2014

" Another delightful read from Block. Rodenbarr finds himself helping an acquaintance and being arrested for a murder he didn't commit. Block's droll digressions, witty wordplay and a wonderful ear for dialogue make this twisted plot even more enjoyable. "

Jennifer | 1/17/2014

" This was my introduction to Bernie Rhodenbarr and I fell in love. All of the Bernie books I have read have been fast reads that make me chuckle out loud. "

Kenny | 1/16/2014

" I still love these books endings! "

Sue | 1/15/2014

" Just a fun little read, though this protagonist always tickles my funny bone with his literary and cultural references. "

Susan | 1/14/2014

" Bernie Rhodenbarr is one of my new favorite characters. This series makes for entertaining middle of the night baby feeding reading!! (Incidentally, thank goodness for the Kindle!! Makes one-handed reading much easier!!!) "

Jessica | 1/12/2014

" This was the intellectual level at which I was operating for the past couple weeks. I love Block and I love Bernie, although this is not the best of the series. Probably worth it only for Block fans. "

" Funny in a dry wit sort of way. Well read by Richard Ferrone -- made the characters "real" in a way I can't imagine getting in the book form. "

Patricia | 12/27/2013

" After finishing "Hit & Run," I wanted another Block book and this was the only Rhodenbarr story I hadn't read. They're always entertaining and this one is no exception. "

Luke | 12/7/2013

" Very similar to the other Bernie Rhodenbarr books. They all seem to have the same basic plot. That doesn't mean that it wasn't a good or enjoyable book. It is a fun read and I enjoyed the characters a lot. "

woody | 12/7/2013

" Another solid book in the burglar series. Bernie manages to get himself into and out of trouble while trying to steal a reclusive author's letters. "

Andersreads | 9/14/2013

" As a mystery book, I enjoyed it. Witty dialogue and an interesting plot. As one reviewer said, the book is a combination Agatha Christie and Monthy Python. "

Nanosynergy | 7/5/2013

" One of the better books in the series. "

Melissa | 6/15/2013

" Salinger, murder, rye. What more could you ask for? "

Michel | 5/9/2013

" 1999 - Bernie Rhodenbarr #9. "

Shawn | 2/6/2013

" What fun one can have in the night. Lawrence Block's Burglar series is great so far. "

Christine | 1/18/2013

" Love the voice of this character. Lots of fun. "

Victoria | 1/29/2012

" I love mysteries, and I really enjoyed the dry humor in the writing of this one. A great story, I loved the literary references. This book stuck with me and even inspired me to try rye whiskey months after I had read it. "

John | 12/25/2011

" Another good book by Lawrence Block. It wasn't 5-star amazing though because it lacks the plot twists in the end that I usually look for in a book, and the mystery is "simple". Nevertheless it's an entertaining read. "

" This is one of the best and most entertaining of the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, which for my money is one of the most entertaining series ever written. Lawrence Block is a crime writer, but in a way he is the modern P.G. Wodehouse. "

Joe | 7/23/2011

" Very Good; Continuing character: Bernie Rhodenbarr; an author's letters provide the background for a series of burglaries and two murdered women. "

Brigi | 6/4/2011

" The solution is never the strong point of the Bernie Rhoderbarr novels, and this one is no exception. The rest of the book is exceptionally entertaining though, especially because of the extended J. D. Salinger allusion. "

Robert | 5/10/2011

" Huge letdown from the first Burglar book I read. If the pages and pages of false twists are supposed to be satirical or comic I didn't quite get it. I like a clever character (Bernie) but don't hit me over the head with it.

Yuck.
"

woody | 3/23/2011

" Another solid book in the burglar series. Bernie manages to get himself into and out of trouble while trying to steal a reclusive author's letters.
"

Luke | 3/1/2011

" Very similar to the other Bernie Rhodenbarr books. They all seem to have the same basic plot. That doesn't mean that it wasn't a good or enjoyable book. It is a fun read and I enjoyed the characters a lot.
"

Scott | 12/29/2010

" some good twists but not his best.
"

Melissa | 8/14/2010

" Salinger, murder, rye. What more could you ask for?
"

Jan | 6/27/2010

" Another delightful read from Block. Rodenbarr finds himself helping an acquaintance and being arrested for a murder he didn't commit. Block's droll digressions, witty wordplay and a wonderful ear for dialogue make this twisted plot even more enjoyable.
"

Patricia | 6/9/2010

" After finishing "Hit & Run," I wanted another Block book and this was the only Rhodenbarr story I hadn't read. They're always entertaining and this one is no exception.
"

Jim | 6/5/2010

" Block always writes great dialogue and descriptions plus erudite stories like this one
"

Christine | 5/4/2010

" Love the voice of this character. Lots of fun.
"

Victoria | 4/17/2010

" I love mysteries, and I really enjoyed the dry humor in the writing of this one. A great story, I loved the literary references. This book stuck with me and even inspired me to try rye whiskey months after I had read it.
"

Paddy | 10/14/2009

" It was a paperback, I was in Buenos Aires, it was portable. Otherwise I would have put it aside. Bernie just doesn't amuse me, nor did all the rye humor.
"

Joe | 8/26/2009

" Very Good; Continuing character: Bernie Rhodenbarr; an author's letters provide the background for a series of burglaries and two murdered women.
"

About the Author

Lawrence Block is the recipient of a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and a New York Times bestselling author. His prolific career spans over one hundred books, including four bestselling series and dozens of short stories and articles. He has won multiple Edgar and Shamus awards, two Falcon Awards from the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan, the Nero and Philip Marlowe Awards, the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association of America, and many others. Aside from being a mystery writer, he has also written a number of episodes for television, including two episodes of the ESPN series Tilt; he also cowrote the screenplay for the film My Blueberry Nights, starring Norah Jones. Block currently lives in New York City with his wife, Lynne.

About the Narrator

Richard Ferrone has recorded over 150 audiobooks including thrillers, romances, science fiction, and inspirational novels. He has earned an Audie Award and four Audie nominations, including for Best Solo Male Narrator of 2003. He was also recognized as an AudioFile “Voice of the Last Century” and a “Rising and Shining Star.” He has earned many AudioFile Earphones Awards and was named the 2011 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense as well as the 2009 Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. A science fiction fan, he narrated Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy. He has also narrated works by James Patterson, Dashiell Hammett, Walter Mosley, John Sandford, Eric Van Lustbader, and Stuart Woods.

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